“It’s the first game of conference play and I’m looking forward to seeing what our conference has got,” Dixon coach Philip Durr said. “I do know none of my seniors have ever won a conference game.”

Trent Marshburn had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks, Curtis Trexel notched 10 points, and Jaylen Mitchell added 8 points and 7 assists for the Bulldogs, who took an 8-point lead after the first quarter before pulling away in the second half.

“What we did in the first quarter was go down low to our big guys, Daniel Page and Trent Marshburn,” Durr said.

Dixon 48, North Duplin 25: Behind a defense that shut out North Duplin in the first quarter, Dixon pulled away early to earn a nonconference win.

The Bulldogs outscored NDHS 14-0 in the opening eight minutes and led 24-4 at halftime.

“We started with a press and the girls came out strong, which has been our goal since the season started,” Dixon coach Christel Caliguire said. “We played good solid defense and we read the ball well.”